Philippines: ITUC condemns attempted arrest of trade union leader
Based on a story from the International Trade Union Confederation
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has condemned an attempt by police in the Philippines to arrest Jerome Adonis, chair of the trade union Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU). A court issued the arrest warrant after a Labour Day protest held on 1 May 2026. The Philippines is rated worst on the ITUC's Global Rights Index, meaning workers there have almost no guarantee of their rights. ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle called the arrest attempt an unacceptable attack on a union leader for doing legitimate trade union work, and said the Philippine authorities must stop trying to criminalise peaceful protest. The ITUC is calling on the government to withdraw the arrest warrant, drop all charges against Adonis and the other unionists involved in the Labour Day protest, and guarantee that workers can organise, speak freely, and gather peacefully without fear of arrest.
Read more from the ITUC on the Philippines ›
Vocabulary
- Trade union — an organisation that workers join together to protect their rights and negotiate better conditions.
- Arrest warrant — a legal order that allows police to arrest a named person.
- Criminalise — to treat an action as a crime, making it punishable by law.
- Legitimate — allowed by law; reasonable and justified.
- Freedom of association — the right to form and join groups, such as unions, without interference.
- Peaceful assembly — the right of people to gather together in public without violence.
Lesson questions
1. Who is Jerome Adonis, and why did police try to arrest him?
2. According to the ITUC, what should the Philippine government do about the charges against Adonis?
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